Lesson

Adding & Subtracting

Number 6
(Combining) Integers
Professor Weissman‘s Algebra Classroom
Martin Weissman, Jonathan S. Weissman. & Tamara Farber
What do the + and — signs What do the + and — signs
mean in Arithmetic? mean in Algebra?
In Arithmetic, the + sign has only one mean- In Algebra the plus and minus signs have sev-
ing: Add. 8+3 eral meanings.
8+3 can only mean add 8 and 3. 1. They indicate the direction of the number
In Arithmetic, the - sign has only one mean- +8 up eight
ing: Subtract 8-3
-8 down eight
8-3 can only mean Subtract 8 and 3.
2. When they appear outside of parentheses
How are signed numbers they act as keep/change operators. That
is they tell us either to keep or change the
combined? sign of the number inside parentheses
Inside this issue: + (+5) = +5 keep the sign inside
If all the sign are the same then add their
+ & - signs 1 absolute values and keep the common sign. + (-6) = -6 keep the sign inside
Combine Signed 1 -1-2-3-4-5= -15 - (+5) = -5 change the sign inside
Numbers
+1+2+3+4+5=+15 - (-6) = +6 change the sign inside
Like Signs 1 3. The minus sign could also mean just what
Unlike Signs 1
How are numbers with dif- it does in Arithmetic: Subtract.

In Real Life 2
ferent signs combined? (+8) - (+3) means Subtract

Subtracting 2 If an expression has both positive and nega-

tive signs, for example: +1-2+3-4+5-6
Simplifying an 3 #1 Separate the positives and the negatives
Expression and combine each group.

Professor‘s Class 4-9 Positives: +1+3+5 = +9

Negatives: -2-4-6 = -12
Exercises 10
#2 Subtract the absolute values of the two
Fun Page 11 results: 12-9 =3

Solutions Page 12 #3 Use the sign of the number with the larger
absolute value (the 12)
+1-2+3-4+5-6 = - 12
Page 2 Adding & Subtracting (Combining) Integers

Where are signed numbers combined in real life?

Charles, in the process job. Let‘s combine all His income is not enough
of making a budget, is these elements of his to cover all his expenses.
summarizing his weekly budget. How will Charles make up
expenses: Rent $140, -140-15-10-75-15-10 = the difference?
Cellphone $15, Trans- -265 +100+150=+250
portation $10, Food More part time work?
$75, Clothing $15, Lei- We now combine the Savings from sum-
sure Activities $10. He two sums: -265+250 = - mer?
gets $100 from a stu- 15 Family assistance?
dent loan and earns Reduce expenses?
What does the negative
$150 at his part time mean?

How do we subtract in Algebra?

What‘s the difference (+8) - (+3)

between a dirty dime
and a shiny penny? The minus in the middle does mean sub-
tract. However, it is easier if, instead of
saying ―Subtract +3 from +8, you con-
The word difference sider the minus sign as a ‗change opera-
tor‘ and say ―Combine a +8 with the op-
posite of +3.Every expression can be
simplified in three basic steps. Just re-
member the letters: SSC S=Separate
means Subtract. The S=Simplify C=Combine (+8) - (+3)
difference between S (+8) | - (+3) Separate into terms
any kind of dime and
any penny is 10¢ -1¢ S +8 -3 Simplify each term
or 9¢ C +5 Combine the results
Lesson Page 3

How is an expression simplified if it has both addition and sub-

traction? For example: -9 + (3-7) - (-2) + (-6) - (+10)
No matter how complicated an ex- -9 + (7-3) - (-2) + (-6) - (+10)
pression in Algebra is, you can
‗uncomplicated‘ it if you
#1 Think of the addition signs as -9 |+ (7-3)|- (-2)|+ (-6) |-(+10)
―keep the sign operators‖ and the
subtraction signs as ―change the
sign operators.‖
-9 |+ 7-3|+2|-6 |-10
#2 Follow the SSC rule. again SSC
means: -9 |+4|+2|-6 |-10
S=Separate the expression into
terms. A term starts with a plus or
minus sign that is NOT in parenthe-
-9 +4+2-6-10
ses.
S=Simplify each term so that it has Separate the negatives and the
no parentheses and is ‗compressed‘
into one signed number.
positives and find their sums:
C=Combine the results.
-9-6-10 = -25
+4+2=+6
Combine these 2 sums:
-25+6=-19
Page 4 Adding & Subtracting (Combining) Integers
Page 5 Newsletter Title
Page 6 Newsletter Title
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 8
Lesson Page 9
 Page 10
Adding & Subtracting (Combining) Integers

Exercise Set 6
1. Evaluate each expression c. -5 increased by 15 d. -a-b
a. +7+8 d. -5 increased by +5 e. a-b+c
b. -7–6 e. 7 increased by x f. b-a
c. - 12 + 7 f. 10 more than –15 g. a-(-b)
d. + 7—12 g. 10 more than—5 h. a-(-b)-c
e. -8+8 h. 10 is more than –5
f. 10—11 i. - 12 subtracted from 10 9. Evaluate
g. - 1 –2 –3 j. The sum of –7 and 9 a. 124 decreased by -100
h. -1 –2 +3 b. -50 minus 20
6. For each example, translate c. the difference between 80
then evaluate. x = -2 and y = 3 and –80?
2. Separate into terms then
evaluate. a. 7 less than x d. 127 less than -200?
a. - 7— ( -7) b. 7 less than –15 e. 50 less -30?
b. 8 — ( +6) c. x less than 7 f. -47 subtracted from -98
c. 9 - (-9) d. x increased by 7
d. (- 12 ) - (- 10) e. 7 increased by x
e. - ( -4) + (- 6) f. 7 is less than x
f. - (-10) - (+ 25) g. 7 less x
g. 5 — (-6) - (+ 7) h. the sum of –10 and x
h. 45 — (- 55) - 100 i. the sum of x and y
j. the difference between x and
y
3. Simplify each problem 2
different ways k. the difference between y and
x
a. - (8-11)
b. - (12-5)
7. Decide if the number is a
c. + (7-12)
solution to the equation
d. + (-4+11)

a. x—7 = 9 x = -2
4. Separate into terms, sim-
b. -10 = x— 5 x = -5
plify each term then combine
the results. c. 7— x = 8 x = -1
d. 1=6+x x = -5
a. - (+7) - (8-10) + (12-1)
b. 10 - (-8) + (-2) - (8-10) 8. Evaluate each expression
when a=-3, b=-2, c=+1
a. a+b
5. For each example, translate
then evaluate b. a-b
a. 7 less than 10 c. -a+b
b. 7 less than –15
Lesson Page 11

Jokes Set #6
A Math student is flying non-stop still safe. Only our flying time will go up to
from Edmonton to Frankfurt with twelve hours."
AirTransat. The scheduled flying Some time later, a third engine fails and
time is nine hours. has to be turned off. But the pilot reas-
Some time after taking off, the pilot sures the passengers: "Don't worry - even
announces that one engine had to with one engine, we're still perfectly safe.
be turned off due to mechanical fail- It just means that it will take sixteen
ure: "Don't worry - we're safe. The hours total for this plane to arrive in
only noticeable effect this will have Frankfurt."
for us is that our total flying time will
be ten hours instead of nine."
The Math student remarks to his fellow
A few hours into the flight, the pilot informs the pas-
passengers: "If the last engine breaks down, too, then
sengers that another engine had to be turned off
we'll be in the air for twenty-four hours altogether!"
due to mechanical failure: "But don't worry - we're

Brain Teaser Set #6

Note: This brain teaser Now add 30.
must be done IN YOUR Add another 1000.
HEAD ONLY and NOT us- Now add 20.
ing paper and a pen. Now add another 1000.
Now add 10.
Take 1000 and add 40 to
it. What is the total?

Now add another 1000.

Answers to Exercise Set 6

1a. +15 or –8+11=+3 i. 10—(-12) or 7a. No d. 327

b. -13 b. - (+7)=-7 or - 22 b. yes e. 80
c. -5 12+5=-7 j. -7 + (9) or c. yes f. -47
c. + (-5)=-5 or +2
d. -5 d. yes
+7-12=-5
e. 0
d. + (+7)=+7 or 6a. x-7 or –9
f. -1 8a. -5
-4+11=+7 b. -15 –7 or -
g. -6 b. -1
22
h. 0 c. +1
4a. +6 c. 7-x or +9
d. +5
b. +18 d. x+7 or +5
2a. 0 e. 0
e. 7+x or +5
b. 2 f. +1
5a. 10-7 or +3f. 7 < x or 7 < -
c. 18 2 g. -5
b. -15 –7 or –22
d. -2 h. -6
c. -5+15 or +10 g. 7 –x or +9
e. -2 h. -10+x or -12
d. -5+5 or 0
f. -15 i. x+y or +1 9a.
e. 7 + x
g. 4 224
f. -15 +10 or –5 j. x-y or -5
h. 0 b. -70
g. -5 +10 or +5 k. y-x or +5
3a. - (-3)=+3 c. 160
h. 10 > -5

Brain Teaser #6 Answer

Did you get 5000?

The correct answer is actually

4100.

Don't believe it? Check with your

calculator!